| Prayer -- Public and Private
Comment: - Jesus promotes private prayer. Public prayers and long prayers are suspect. Matthew 6:5 - 7 are the best verses attributed to Jesus in the bible. Matthew 6:5 *** 5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Prayer must be in private, not in front of other people. Do not repeat things over and over again in prayer) 1 Corinthians 11:5 * 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on [her] head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman [is] of the man, even so [is] the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering. (Women should have head covered when praying) 1 Corinthians 11:4 * 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head. (Man must have his head uncovered when praying) Matthew 14:23 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 26:36 36. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. Mark 1:35 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 6:46 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. Luke 5:16 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. Luke 9:18 18. And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? Luke 22:45 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, (Jesus prayed alone, as he said people should -- not in public) Acts 10:9 9. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: (Peter prayed in private) Matthew 23:14 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Mark 12:40 40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. (Long prayers are condemned, especially if you are hypocritical) 1 Thessalonians 5:17 17 Pray without ceasing. Acts 1:14 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Paul seems to do opposite to what Jesus says to do in prayer -- they prayed together and he admonishes people to make long prayers, that is pray all the time -- this seems impossible!) (Perhaps they each prayed in silence, so they didn't pray in front of others -- in the last verse) |
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